Reason 2: They live a long time?

A long time. A Really
long time. 80 years for some of the big birds. By taking on a bird -
unless you get this bird at birth, chances are the bird will outlive
you. Who will take care of the bird when you are no longer able to?
Giving a long lived animal like this to another family member -
especially if the bird has a another 30 years left in it - is quite a
burden to others.

You may want to consider leaving some money in your will for the care of the bird. You may want to consider looking into options periodically in case something unexpected happens to you. What if you were to be killed on the highway? What if you were to get a serious illness? I acquired my bird because - according to the pet store - the owner became quite ill and could no longer care for the bird. Although we did tell the store they could contact us, we have not heard from anyone.

Keep in mind that buying a pet like this is a lifetime commitment - a lifetime! Although a parrot might seem like a good fit when you are young, consider what will happen if you meet and marry someone. Do they like birds? What happens when you have children? Parrots can be aggressive animals and young children might not know what to do around a bird. What if you like to travel. You might not be able to bring your parrot with you across international borders. I’ve been told that I would not be able to bring my cockatoo (whose parents were likely smuggled out of Australia) back to Australia.

Anyhow, thing of the time commitment involved. Will a bird fit in all stages of your life - or will the bird be moved from home to home as he ages.

This is where Episode 7 of our podcast comes in. Please listen to the work of the Gabriel Foundation.